- A group of 16 Democratic AGs filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the decision by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to redistribute thousands of Forced Reset Triggers (FRTs) throughout the United States.
- The lawsuit argues that FRTs were previously classified by the ATF as prohibited machine guns under federal law and seized as part of enforcement efforts, and challenges the ATF’s authority to redistribute the seized FRTs. The AGs also argue that the redistribution policy is ultra vires, violates the Administrative Procedure Act, and will cause irreparable harm to states as it may lead to the increased use of FRTs in criminal incidents and require more law enforcement and health care resources to respond to such events.
- The complaint seeks injunctive and declaratory relief prohibiting the federal government from distributing FRT devices in ways that directly harm the states, vacating the redistribution policy, and awarding fees, costs, and expenses, among other relief.